Wednesday, 3 January 2018

Back in November we were about to embark on potty training. This was to be our third attempt.

Everyone had told me that potty training in the summer would be much easier, that Sophie could run about in the garden with a dress and no nappy and it would mean accidents would be easy to clean up. This teamed with the prospect of moving house in the autumn spurred me on to give it a try back in August. The first day went reasonably well, but the following day Sophie got a tummy bug and the nappies went back on sharpish.

We then waited until after we moved house as we didn’t want her to be unsettled, but Sophie just got really upset and begged to have her nappy back on, so we didn’t push it.

Soon after, HUGGIES® Pull-Ups® approached us to ask if we would be their ambassadors for Potty Training to share our experiences, using the 6 Steps to Potty Success guide and HUGGIES® Pull-Ups® potty training pants. With no pressure for it to be a success I was keen to get involved.

In my previous post I outlined the steps we went through (which you can read here) leading us to Step 3 which was to practice.

Although we followed the steps, saying goodbye to the nappies, again the next morning Sophie wanted to have one back on so we delayed another week or so, until one morning she told me didn’t want her nappy on. I let her guide the process.

I told her that she could have some chocolate buttons if she managed to do a wee in the toilet or potty, which she was really excited about, for many reasons, a) we don’t give her that much chocolate and b) it was 8am! But I thought that this was a big thing to celebrate so normal treat rules could be relaxed.

She was ecstatic when she did her first wee and really enjoyed her celebratory buttons. I kept making such a big deal about how clever and grown up she was and she kept wanting to do more wees in the toilet to get the rewards no doubt!

As I hadn’t planned to start potty training that morning as we had a lunch date with a friend and I didn’t feel confident taking her out in just pants, but didn’t want to revert back to nappies. This is where the HUGGIES® Pull-Ups® were perfect. I told her that they were her ‘big girl pants’ and that she needed to try not to wee in them, using the toilet or potty instead.

HUGGIES® Pull-Ups® have a special learning layer which briefly gives the sensation of wetness (the ‘I feel’) without the mess and there is a wetness indicator, which visually signals wet so both Sophie and I can check to see if she has stayed dry (the ‘I see’). So we could go out to lunch both feeling confident that there wouldn’t be any messes but I knew she’d still be learning and developing her independence.

Sophie felt happy and independent using normal pants at home – where it didn’t matter if she made a puddle – and HUGGIES® Pull-Ups® when out and about. After a few days she was doing so well and having hardly any accidents that we moved on to using big girl pants all the time. We carry a travel potty with us, so if she needs to go, she can at a moment’s notice. Also I was given the tip of dressing her in leggings as they ‘catch’ any wetness and are much quicker to dry after washing then thicker materials. We tend to carry a couple of spare pairs along with pants in my bag - but touch wood, Sophie has had so few accidents.

We’ve also been using the HUGGIES® Pull-Ups® night-time pants for consistency which are super absorbent and don’t give the wet sensation, so she can be comfortable when she is sleeping. Sophie isn’t dry at night yet, and isn’t as confident doing number twos in the potty or toilet, but we are getting there.

So zero days spent at home doing ‘potty training’ which was stressing me out before we started, the whole process was actually very chilled. I was so worried that it was going to be a massive ordeal and it has been totally fine.

If you are about to embark on potty training, I would say - don’t stress and if it doesn’t seem to be working, leave it a few weeks, don’t keep trying if it is getting your little one upset or stressed. Wait until you’re ready - Step 1 of the 6 Steps to Potty Training Success journey!